This Week
The 20th London Jazz Festival kicked off on Friday. We were blown away by Jazz Voice: Celebrating a Century of Song, which saw an incredible array of vocalists take to the stage – from Boy George and Imelda May to Gwyneth Herbert and Patti Austin – and this week looks set to be no less spectacular. Highlights include Herbie Hancock, Bill Frisell, Jack DeJohnette and Esperanza Spalding.
After the success of his Number 1 self-titled debut, Jake Bugg’s show on Wednesday has been upgraded from the Scala to the rather roomier Koko. Support comes from Tom O’Dell, a singer-songwriter who could prove to be the antidote to the swarm of Adele-alikes. Signed to Lily Allen’s record label, he’s got a big voice and an addictive debut single.
His story is like one from a film…so like one, in fact, that someone’s beaten us to it. Rodriguez was thrust into the limelight with the release of Searching For Sugar Man, a documentary which detailed his bizarre career. After releasing a couple of albums in the early 1970s, he remained relatively obscure in the US but unbeknown to him he was a superstar in South Africa. He was believed to have committed suicide, but fans tracked him down and, on the back of the film, his career has spiralled. He plays at the Royal Festival Hall on Saturday.
The best of the rest...
Monday 12 November
Bill Frisell, London Jazz Festival @ Queen Elizabeth Hall
Serafina Steer @ Sebright Arms
Gotye @ Hammersmith Apollo
Herbie Hancock, London Jazz Festival @ Royal Festival Hall
The Lumineers @ Koko
Pepe Deluxe @ Scala
Viv Albertine @ Rough Trade East (free)
Tuesday 13 November
Noisettes @ KOKO
Jessie Ware @ Brixton Electric
Punch Brothers @ Islington Assembly Hall
Sidi Toure @ Momo
Wednesday 14 November
Ladyhawke @ Forum
Eugene McGuinness @ 100 Club
Adam Green and Binki Shapiro @ Bush Hall
Jake Bugg @ KOKO
Speech Debelle @ Village Underground
Thursday 15 November
Esperanza Spalding, London Jazz Festival @ Royal Festival Hall
Woodkid @ Queen Elizabeth Hall
Swans @ KOKO
Gabby Young @ Bush Hall
Friday 16 November
Jack DeJohnette Group, London Jazz Festival @ Queen Elizabeth Hall
Flying Lotus @ Troxy
Saturday 17 November
Rodriguez @ Royal Festival Hall
The Killers @ 02 Arena
Chickfactor 2012 – The Pastels, The Aislers Set and more @ Bush Hall
Sunday 18 November
Rufus Wainwright @ Hammersmith Apollo
Sea Of Bees @ Union Chapel
Just Announced
The first acts have been announced for next year’s ATP festivals. TV on The Radio are set to take over the holiday camp on 10-12 May, and have announced Spank Rock, Saul Williams, CSS, Talibam! and Shabazz Palaces are among the bands they’ve handpicked. It’s Deerhunter’s turn on June 21-23, and the’ve chosen Atlas Sound, Dan Deacon, Laetitia Sadier, No Age and Black Lips.
Former Girls frontman Christopher Owens has announced his first live shows. His debut album Lysandre was apparently inspired by the goings on during his former band’s first ever tour, back in summer 2008. He’ll play his only UK dates at St Giles Church on December 10 and 11.
Theme Park have announced their biggest show to date. The Dalston trio have been nudging their way up to bigger venues throughout 2012 – they’re playing at Hoxton Bar and Kitchen next month, and will headline at Heaven on 14 March. Their new EP, Two Hours, due on November 26, includes covers of tracks by Jessie Ware, The National and Hot Chip.
Folk’s rising star Benjamin Francis Leftwich tops off a mammoth 32-date UK tour…by announcing new dates for next year. His new EP’s out on November 19, and you can hear title track In the Open here. He’ll call into the Forum on 23 May.
Bombay Bicycle Club will play at Koko on 22 December to raise money for charity Freedom from Torture. The band will be supported by Trophy Wife at the show to mark International Human Rights Day.
